International 70mm Publishers Meeting

Film Presentation for the 21st Century - 70mm Super Definition Cinema. ISBN: 90-803503-2-X. Published in 1999 by International 70mm Publishers

The International 70mm Publishers launched their new publication "Film Presentation for the 21st Century - 70mm Super Definition Cinema" on Saturday, 17 April 1999, at Studio A of Todd-AO Studios in Hollywood. This new book, edited by Johan Wolthuis, Wouter De Voogd, and Paul Rayton, is a compilation of eighteen technical articles by experts in the motion picture industry, with the expressed intent to "give a new impulse to the use of the original 65/70 mm technology."

The premier copy of the book was presented to Suzie Daugherty of Digital Theatre Systems (DTS), the first company to successfully couple digital sound to 70mm picture. Five segments of film were projected to illustrate the high definition of 70mm presentations. To begin the meeting, the Overture and opening shots above Manhattan from "West Side Story" were shown. As a side note, the sound for "West Side Story" was mixed by Todd-AO on Studio A, where this meeting was being held; after 37 years it still sounded great. Reel 6 of "Baraka" was shown next, and the intricate detail in the images dazzled the audience.  "Tour Eiffel" a comedy short, and "CineSpace 70" a demo film, gave additional examples of 70mm quality. The final segment, "A Trip To Mars" a ride simulator film, showcased the use of DTS digital sound with 70mm picture at 30 fps; and the result was truly impressive.

Included in the audience of more than thirty people were Glen Berggren of Sigma Design, Rick Mitchell of American Cinematographer, Christopher Reyna of Imagica USA, David Richards of Christie, Inc., Bob Miller and Mike Schleiger of Paramount Studios, George Crittenden of The Alex Film Society, Dan O´Keeffe of SONY (SDDS) and Karen Hultgren, Lorr Kramer, and Lise Hannibal from DTS.